Nori's Delta (Delta Team Three #1) - Lori Ryan Page 0,37

behind his head and clenched them together, like lacing the fingers might lock them in place to keep him from doing something stupid. “And you. It’s nice that you had him there with you when she was sick.”

“It was. I wanted to leave school to help her but they wouldn’t hear of it. At first I was resentful of that. It had always been the two of us and when he came along, I was okay with that because I didn’t want her to be lonely. But then when she was sick, I kind of wanted to be the one to be by her side.”

“Did you leave school to be with her?”

“No.” She had rolled to face him and the move was damned distracting, but he wanted to hear this. Wanted to know all of what he’d missed when they had been living separate lives.

She went on. “He convinced me not to. He told me he would always be there for her and for me. He wanted me to do what my mom would want, and that was to stay in school. He promised me that if she started to lose her fight with cancer, he would let me know so I could come home and be there at the end.”

“And he did?”

She nodded again, into his chest. “I came home for the last few weeks. It was then that he told me he wanted me to take his name, if I wanted to. That even though I was almost ready to graduate college by then, that he and I were family and we would stay that way even after my mom died.”

“Are you still close?”

“Yes. Very. By that time, I really did love him like a dad and I cried when he asked me if I would take his name. It meant so much to me and I know it meant the world to my mom to know I wouldn’t be alone after she died. He’s remarried now and has step-kids and grand-step-kids and all. I still go see them sometimes when I can get away and I spend holidays there when I’m in the states.”

“Where do they live?”

“Texas. Austin. It’s a fun place to visit.” She was tilting her head up to him now and he would swear she was staring at his mouth.

He knew he was going to give in and kiss her any minute. Knew he was past winning this fight. He was too far gone. But he wanted her to know one thing.

“You were incredible at the compound with Demir today. He saw you as a real equal. I could see that he developed respect for you as the morning went on and you showed him how in command you were. How you could go into this compound in a country in the middle of a civil war and keep your cool and negotiate with him. You did good, Nori. Real good.”

She flushed and ducked her head and he laughed.

Then he leaned closer, closing the distance between them, careful to keep some small amount of space between their bodies even as his mouth found hers. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to stop this with a kiss. Wouldn’t be able to leave it at that. But he had to taste her. Had to show her what she did to him.

He kissed her long and slow and deep. He just wanted the chance to connect with her. To be with her in this way, with just the two of them. To let her feel how much he’d missed her in his life all these years. How much her absence had cut him, even when he hadn’t known that was what was missing.

Chapter 17

Zip and Jangles were watching Eleanor. It was the only way Heath would agree to leave her. He trusted his team with his life and hers even though it killed him not to be with her. But for now, he needed to be here with Merlin and Duff, poring over the particulars of the reports they’d gotten on Eleanor’s team members.

“I don’t see anything that jumps out,” Merlin said and Duff nodded his agreement.

Heath had to agree with them. He was really hoping they’d find something obvious. A gambling problem or large deposit of money.

“Sharon Geiger is the newest person in their office, but she’s been with the foreign service for ten years. Exemplary record.” Merlin shuffled the pages in front of him.

“I don’t like Geoff.” Heath stood and paced as he spoke.